Uncooled, High-Efficiency Mid-Infrared Lasers by Using Intersubband Quantum-Box Structures

使用子带间量子盒结构的非冷却高效中红外激光器

• 批准号: 0925104
• 负责人: Dan Botez
• 金额: $ 39.99万
• 依托单位: University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-08-01 至 2013-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0925104&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Uncooled; Efficiency; Mid; Infrared; Lasers

The objective of the proposed work is to demonstrate devices that utilize intersubband transitions in arrays of quantum boxes (QBs), to achieve room-temperature, continuous-wave (CW) oscillation in the mid-infrared (IR) wavelength range, with low heat-dissipation powers. Intellectual Merit: The novel approaches proposed are: 1) the use of block-copolymer lithography for the realization of arrays of 20-25 nm-diameter QBs; 2) the use of deep quantum wells for the QB active material for strong carrier confinement; 3) the use of selective regrowth of high-bandgap barriers to confine carriers in the plane of the QBs..Broader Impacts: The realization of uncooled, CW mid-IR sources will make possible hand-held, real-time sensors for a wide range of noninvasive medical diagnostics and enable exciting developments such as practical sensing of chemical agents and explosives. A central goal and natural outcome of this project is the research-based education of both undergraduate and graduate students. The students will be involved in all aspects of the research within an established collaborative team-based environment. The proposed program provides opportunities for outreach to underrepresented groups through our ongoing partnering with the existing college and NSF Center-based programs at the University of Wisconsin. The realization of the proposed QB lasers will have a transformational impact on both the science and technology of mid-IR lasers because reducing the heat dissipation by two orders of magnitude will lead to uncooled devices, which in turn will revolutionize the mid-IR sensors industry since hand-held sensors would become available for a vast array of applications.

这项拟议工作的目的是展示利用量子盒阵列(QB)中的子带间跃迁来实现室温、中红外(IR)波长范围内的连续波(CW)振荡的器件，并具有低散热功率。智能优点：提出的新方法是：1)使用嵌段共聚光刻技术实现直径20-25 nm的量子点阵列；2)对量子点活性材料使用深量子阱进行强载流子限制；3)使用选择性再生长的高带隙势垒来限制量子点平面内的载流子。更广泛的影响：非制冷、连续中红外光源的实现将使手持、实时传感器成为可能，用于广泛的非侵入性医疗诊断，并使激动人心的发展成为可能，例如对化学试剂和爆炸物的实用传感。这个项目的一个中心目标和自然结果是本科生和研究生的研究型教育。学生将在已建立的基于团队的协作环境中参与研究的各个方面。拟议的项目通过我们与威斯康星大学现有的学院和NSF中心项目的持续合作，提供了接触代表性不足群体的机会。建议中的QB激光器的实现将对中红外激光器的科学和技术产生革命性的影响，因为将散热降低两个数量级将导致非制冷设备，这反过来将彻底改变中红外传感器行业，因为手持传感器将可用于广泛的应用。